Written Answers Tuesday 17 May 2005

Scottish Executive

Art

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10920 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 October 2004, whether any steps have been taken to establish a policy on commissioning new art when it commissions new capital projects and, if so, what these steps are.

Mr Tom McCabe: No steps have been taken to establish a formal policy on commissioning new art when the Executive commissions new capital projects. We remain content to address the issue on a project-by-project basis.

Art

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, any of its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have promoted the formulation of a policy of support for new art.

Mr Tom McCabe: We are not aware of any such policy promotion in relation to new capital projects commissioned by the Executive and refer you to the answer to S2W-15648, answered on 17 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . However, records are not held centrally in this area and individual organisations may have been active in it in respect of their own businesses.

Cancer

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the disparity identified in the research, Causes of excess mortality in cerebral palsy , by Strauss, Cable and Shavelle which recorded that women with cerebral palsy have three times the incidence of death from breast cancer than their non-disabled peers.

Mr Andy Kerr: The study states that mortality from breast cancer was three times that of the general population suggesting poorer detection or treatment.

  In Scotland there is already a well established breast cancer screening programme for all women aged 50 to 64. The extension of routine invitation for screening to 70 years is currently being phased in across Scotland.

  Our cancer strategy Cancer in Scotland seeks to ensure more rapid access to diagnosis and treatment for all cancer patients including those affected by breast cancer. More than £5 million has been invested specifically in breast services during 2001-04.

  In Scotland five-year survival from breast cancer has increased substantially from 60% in 1977–81 to 77% in 1997–2001.

Environment

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16183 by Ross Finnie on 3 May 2005, whether it will direct the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to remove or suspend Fermanagh Waste Recycling from the Scottish register of waste carriers.

Ross Finnie: No. It would not normally be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to direct the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to individual cases, and the Executive is confident that the Agency is able to carry out its responsibility for maintaining the GB Register of Waste Carriers in respect of Scotland properly and in the light of any information received.

Environment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage would be liable to compensate any landowners who incurred loss as a result of damage caused by the reintroduction of the beaver.

Lewis Macdonald: The current licence application from Scottish Natural Heritage raises the issue of compensation for damage to landowners who may be adversely affected by the proposed re-introduction of beavers. However, it is only one of a very wide range of issues in a case that has not yet been fully assessed by the Executive.

Equalities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholder groups are actively involved in its Equality Unit.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings its Equality Unit has held with its stakeholder groups in each year since its inception.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Equality Unit routinely meets with a wide variety of stakeholder organisations as well as public and private sector organisations. This is part of our constant effort to promote equal opportunities in Scotland and the Executive welcomes contact from all interested parties. There has been no attempt to record the number of meetings held since the Equality Unit was set up in 1999.

  In addition, the Equality Unit has run a number of stakeholder forums. Recent forums facilitated by the unit are:

  
The Equality and Human Rights Reference Group
The Disability Working Group
The Race Equality Advisory Forum
The Older People’s Consultative Forum
The British Sign Language and Linguistic Access Working Group
The Scottish Women’s Convention
The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum
The Core Liaison Group (religion and belief).


  The Equality Unit also meets quarterly with national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups to discuss strategic issues.

  All of these forums have a wide variety of stakeholder members. Each stakeholder member will also discuss the issues with their members. Other organisations or individuals may be invited to attend these forums where necessary.

  Equality Unit staff also frequently attend external meetings, working groups and conferences.

  The Equality Unit work listed here represents only a small part of the stakeholder engagement carried out by the Scottish Executive.

Equalities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings its Equality Unit has facilitated with age-related organisations in each year since its inception.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Equality Unit and Older People’s Unit routinely meet with a wide variety of age related organisations and stakeholders. There has been no attempt to record the number of meetings held since the Equality Unit was set up in 1999.

  The Older People’s Unit, which is now part of the Equality Unit, has established and facilitated meetings of the Older People’s Consultative Forum, which represents a diverse range of older people’s interests. Membership is drawn from a wide range of groups, and meetings are chaired by the appropriate minister, currently the Minister for Communities. There have been eleven meetings between February 2002 and February 2005.

  Current membership of the Forum:

  
Scottish Pensioners Forum
Scottish Pensions Association
West of Scotland Seniors Forum
Black and Minority Ethnic Elders Group
Scottish Older People’s Advisory Group
STUC
COSLA Spokesperson for Older People
Alzheimer’s Scotland
Age Concern Scotland 
Help the Aged.


  Observers also attend from COSLA and the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Older People, Age and Ageing. Other organisations or individuals may be invited to attend the forum where necessary.

Equalities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its next Equality Annual Report.

Malcolm Chisholm: Since the publication of the previous Equality Annual Report in 2003 the Scottish Executive has reported on its activities to develop the equality strategy in a number of different documents. These have taken the place of a full annual report and allow much better reporting of the work of the Equality Unit. These reports are:

  
European Year of Disabled People 2003 Evaluation Report
Report of the Strategic Group on Women
Scottish Refugee Integration Forum Progress Report
Race Equality Advisory Forum Progress Audit
Race Equality Strategy Annual Report
Delivering for Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers.


  In addition, there are a number of areas of work which we have not yet reported on. We will report on Equality Unit work in these areas by September 2005.

European Union

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to promote the forthcoming EU Seventh Framework Programme to businesses, universities and colleges across Scotland

Mr Jim Wallace: The European Commission’s proposals have yet to be approved by the member states and we are therefore not yet at the stage of promoting them to the various stakeholders.

  The Executive has consulted stakeholders on the proposals and has provided input to the UK position.

  The Executive is involved in the promotion of Framework Programme 6 through the Scottish Proposal Assistance Fund (SPAF) which helps industry participation. Additionally, the Proposal Assistance for the Co-ordination of European Research (PACER) helps Academia. It is intended to use similar methods to promote Framework Programme 7.

Health

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many perinatal deaths occurred in each of the last three years in (a) Rothesay and (b) Dunoon hospital and how many there were in (c) Inverclyde and (d) the Royal Alexandria hospital of children of patients from Dunoon and Rothesay.

Tavish Scott: During the period 2002 to 2004 there were no perinatal deaths at Rothesay Victoria Hospital; one perinatal death, in 2003, at Dunoon and District General Hospital; no perinatal deaths at Inverclyde Royal Hospital to mothers from Dunoon or Rothesay, and two perinatal deaths at the Royal Alexandra Hospital to mothers from Dunoon or Rothesay; both were in 2004.

  The information for 2004 is provisional.

  As mentioned in the answer to question S2W-16195 on 5 May 2005, NHS Argyll and Clyde is currently undertaking a detailed review of perinatal deaths to mothers who live in Inverclyde. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Housing

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public sector houses have been sold to tenants since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of public sector houses.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the number of local authority dwellings sold to tenants and estimated local authority stock.

  Sales of Local Authority Dwellings to Tenants: Scotland 1999-2003

  

 
 Sales to Tenants
 Estimated Stock as at 31 December
 Sales as Percentage of Stock


 1999
 13,317
 584,000
 2.28


 2000
 13,981
 558,000
 2.51


 2001
 13,169
 535,000
 2.46


 2002
 15,849
 515,000
 3.08


 2003
 17,526
 493,000
 3.55



  Source: Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division Housing Statistics Branch.

  Notes:

  
1. For purposes of comparability, 2003 data for Scotland include sales and stock for Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Scottish Borders where complete stock transfers took place in the course of 2003. Figures exclude other housing association stock but include Scottish Homes stock.
2. Stock estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Housing

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a graph showing the percentage of public sector houses which have been sold to tenants in comparison with England in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16379 on 17 May 2005. Which contains the Scottish data required to construct such a graph. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The following table shows comparable data for England.

  Sales of Local Authority Dwellings to Tenants: England 1999-2003

  

 
 Sales to Tenants
 Estimated Stock as at 31 March
 Sales as Percentage of Stock


 1999
 51,212
 3,178,000
 1.61


 2000
 54,856
 3,012,000
 1.82


 2001
 50,735
 2,812,000
 1.80


 2002
 59,241
 2,706,000
 2.19


 2003
 71,910
 2,457,000
 2.93



  Source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister housing statistics live tables.

  Notes:

  
1. Sales figures exclude sales by new towns.
2. Stock series from 1992 to 2001 for England has been adjusted so that the 2001 total dwelling estimate matches the 2001 Census. Stock estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.


  The chart requested has been lodged in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 36465).

Housing

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of occupied houses is privately owned.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on tenure of occupied houses can be found in two published sources, both available online: the 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey report. ( http://www.shcs.gov.uk/pdfs/SHCS2002report_revised.pdf ) and the Scottish Household Survey 2003 report ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/housing/shsar03-00.asp ).

Housing

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses are below tolerable standard and what plans it has to remove such houses from the housing stock.

Malcolm Chisholm: The most recent estimate from the Scottish House Condition Survey, which is the only consistent national source of information on houses below tolerable standard, is that there were 20,000 households living in houses below the standard in 2002. This is 0.9% of all households in Scotland. The 2002 edition of the survey, chapter 5 of which deals with the tolerable standard, can be found at www.shcs.gov.uk/pdfs/SHCS2002report_revised.pdf .

  Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 it is the duty of local authorities to deal with houses in their areas that are below tolerable standard, by ensuring that they are closed, demolished or brought up to the standard. The Housing (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced on 7 March, would require each local authority to set out in its local housing strategy a strategy for ensuring that it complies with this duty.

  The Executive provides funding through Private Sector Housing Grant to local authorities to address condition issues in private sector housing. One of the priorities for action for their use of this funding is dealing with houses below tolerable standard. Total provision for Private Sector Housing Grant for 2005-06 is £72 million.

Individual Learning Accounts

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23705 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 28 March 2002, whether it will publish an updated version of the answer reconciling the total with the data in the answer.

Mr Jim Wallace: In the time that has elapsed since question S1W-23705 was answered, the following additional payments have been made to the learning providers listed:

  

 Alliance Francaise de Glasgow 
£3,374


 AMT International
£430


 BPP Glasgow
£750


 Centro Espanol Lorca
£4,350


 Garnethill Centre
£850


 Glasgow Caledonian University
£15,903


 Informatics Group UK Ltd
£210


 Learning and Teaching Scotland 
£375


 Network Driver Training
£1,500


 Scot-Train
£10,956


 Scottish Screen
£1,325


 Scottish Training and Counselling Services (SCOTACS) 
£300


 Scottish Yoga Teachers’ Association 
£3,000


 Share 
£160


 Stow College
£70,929


 University of Glasgow – Adult and Continuing Education 
£42,679


 University of Glasgow – Language Centre
£71


 University of Glasgow – Universal Training Solution
£3,200


 University of Strathclyde – Centre for Lifelong Learning
£9,032


 University of Strathclyde – Centre for Professional Legal Studies
£600



  Therefore, the updated data for the full list of learning providers contained in the answer to question S1W-23705 are:

  

 Alliance Francaise de Glasgow 
£24,447


 AMT International 
£5,649


 BPP Glasgow 
£14,132


 British Red Cross Scotland 
£360


 Catersafe Food Hygiene 
£750


 Centre for Educational Systems 
£1,800


 Centro Espanol Lorca 
£26,355


 College of Holistic Medicine 
£4,650


 Garnethill Centre 
£1,300


 Glasgow Caledonian University 
£80,416


 Glasgow Media Access Centre 
£155


 Goethe-Institut Glasgow 
£14,344


 Gosta Training 
£701


 Harmony Kinesiology College 
£655


 Informatics Group UK Ltd 
£960


 International Correspondence Schools 
£42,106


 Internet Exchange 
£30,000


 ITC-Skills Ltd 
£289,221


 Kinharvie 
£1,950


 Learning and Teaching Scotland 
£24,191


 Mindstore 
£1,350


 Netcon-X Enterprise Ltd 
£1,200


 Network Driver Training 
£2,100


 PCT Professional Development 
£300


 Scot-Train 
£56,176


 Scottish College of Complementary Medicine 
£2,400


 Scottish Screen 
£3,130


 Scottish Training and Counselling Services (SCOTACS) 
£6,220


 Scottish Yoga Teachers’ Association 
£4,350


 Services to Software Ltd 
£600


 Share 
£2,303


 Sports Rehab and Education Services 
£857


 Stow College 
£354,419


 University of Glasgow – Adult and Continuing Education 
£177,382


 University of Glasgow – Language Centre -
£3,599


 University of Glasgow – Universal Training Solution 
£26,969


 University of Strathclyde – Centre for Lifelong Learning 
£49,805


 University of Strathclyde – Centre for Professional Legal Studies 
£28,600


 University of Strathclyde – Languages for Business 
£600



  The total value of payments to these providers is: £1,286,502.

  As in the answer to question S1W-23705, the data for individual learning providers is fully reconciled with the figure for the total value of payments.

Livestock

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on proposals for a scheme to replace the Bull Hire Scheme.

Lewis Macdonald: I am publishing a consultation paper today which sets out our proposals for a new Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme. This will replace the Bull Hire Scheme which was previously operated by the Crofters Commission. That scheme was ended because it did not deliver measurable improvement in the herds of cattle that benefited from it and because of concerns around State Aid compliance.

  The new scheme will pay crofting groups a fixed-rate grant for preparation of a cattle improvement plan, grant of up to 50% of the cost of hiring or buying a bull and grant on a headage basis towards the cost of monitoring stock improvement over the life of the plan.

  Copies of the consultation paper The Crofters Cattle Improvement Scheme have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 36440). The consultation paper is also available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current.

Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has rejected a limited third-party right of appeal for inclusion in its proposed reform of planning legislation.

Johann Lamont: As one of the Partnership Agreements, the Scottish Executive committed to consult on wider rights of appeal in planning. This consultation took place in summer 2004.

  The consultation paper prompted a large number of responses both for and against extending the right of appeal in planning. Scottish ministers have been giving careful consideration to the arguments presented on both sides and will publish their proposals on this, and other planning matters, in a white paper. We expect to publish the white paper before the parliamentary summer recess.

Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its proposed reform of planning legislation, whether it will provide examples of existing "projects of national strategic significance".

Johann Lamont: Under current planning legislation there is no reference to "projects of national significance".

  The Executive has made clear its intention to review planning legislation. To this end, ministers have been giving careful consideration to a wide range of reforms to modernise the planning system in Scotland. Proposals for this will be set out in a white paper, which we expect to publish before the parliamentary summer recess.

Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the National Planning Framework and, in particular, the setting of national policy and sector priorities, whether it will consult on the development of projects of national strategic significance and what role the Parliament will have in identifying and scrutinising such projects.

Johann Lamont: The Executive has made clear its intention to review planning legislation. To this end, ministers have been giving careful consideration to a wide range of reforms to modernise the planning system in Scotland. Proposals for this, including the future role and remit of the National Planning Framework, will be set out in a white paper, which we expect to publish before the parliamentary summer recess.

Queen’s Speech

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what Sewel motions it will lodge in the Parliament in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government announced on 17 May 2005 in the Queen’s Speech.

Ms Margaret Curran: Westminster does not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland unless it has the consent of the Scottish Parliament. This convention – sometimes known as the "Sewel convention" – is an important part of the devolution settlement, signifying respect for the role of the Scottish Parliament.

  The Executive recommends that the Scottish Parliament should consent to such legislation only when it would deliver clear benefits for Scotland and is consistent with the themes of the Partnership Agreement. In that context, the Executive is working with the UK Government to identify and agree specific opportunities to deliver such benefits in relation to the Bills announced with today’s Queen’s Speech.

  The bills already identified as offering potential are:

  
The Animal Welfare Bill – to ensure that people who are banned from keeping animals in England and Wales, following conviction for cruelty to animals there, continue also to be banned from keeping animals in Scotland.
The Equality Bill – to ensure that the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights takes due account of Scottish interests and the duty to promote equality between men and women is placed on Scottish public authorities.
The European Union Bill – to ensure that the devolution settlement is taken into account in legislation to enable the ratification and implementation in UK law of the EU Constitutional Treaty and to allow a referendum on the Treaty to take place.
The National Lottery Bill – to provide power for Scottish ministers to issue directions to the Big Lottery Fund and allow a Scottish Committee to exercise all the functions of the fund in relation to devolved expenditure.


  The Executive will maintain a dialogue with the UK Government over the coming weeks and months to see whether further opportunities can be identified. If that proves to be the case, the Executive will bring them to the attention of the Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

  For each relevant bill, the Executive will present the Parliament with a motion and detailed explanatory memorandum as soon as possible after it is introduced at Westminster in order to maximise the scope for scrutiny and debate. It will be for the Scottish Parliament then to determine whether to give or withhold consent.

Renewable Energy

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 28 April 2005 of £1.1 million funding for the "hydrogen office", how much electricity will be used to obtain the hydrogen from water and what the fuel source of this electricity will be.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Hydrogen Office will use a renewable energy system to generate hydrogen. This system will consist of two 10 kilowatt (kW) wind turbines, 25 kilowatt-peak (kWp) of roof mounted photovoltaic panels, a 10kW electrolyser, 333 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of hydrogen storage capacity and a 5kW fuel cell.

  The maximum electrical consumption of the electrolyser will be 10kW during periods of excess renewable supply.

Renewable Energy

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 28 April 2005 of £1.1 million funding for the "hydrogen office", whether the hydrogen will be transported to the office building by cable or by road and how it will be converted into electricity when it reaches the building.

Mr Jim Wallace: All hydrogen will be generated on the site of the Hydrogen Office. The project will use a combination of on-site wind turbines and photovoltaic panels to produce electricity. During periods of excess generation some of this electricity will be converted to hydrogen and stored in fuel cells located on-site of the Hydrogen Office.

  The hydrogen will be generated from electricity by electrolysis. When required, the hydrogen will be passed over the fuel cell through which an electrochemical process generates electricity, heat and pure water.

Renewable Energy

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 28 April 2005 of £1.1 million funding for the "hydrogen office", how many fuel cells the office will require; how much each hydrogen fuel cell will cost; what materials they will be made from, and how much energy will be used in the production of each one.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Hydrogen Office will be powered by a 5 kilowatt fuel cell, costing an estimated £10,000. Information on materials used to make the fuel cell is not available. However, it will be no larger than a domestic fridge and is not expected to have a high embodied energy content.

Renewable Energy

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 28 April 2005 of £1.1 million funding for the "hydrogen office", how much the office building will cost to maintain and what its lifespan will be.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Hydrogen Office will have a lifespan of a conventional modern office building. The core renewable electrical generation technologies have a proven lifespan of 20 years. The annualised cost of the hydrogen system will be £11,000. This is expected to decrease over time as the service and maintenance industry develops and fuel cell technology improves.

  The Hydrogen Office project is being developed to be financially sustainable and capable of covering the costs of on-going energy system maintenance.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents causing injuries have occurred in each of the last 10 years on the B822 between the entrance from the north and the exit to the south of Kippen.

Nicol Stephen: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the Police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the "Stats 19" statistical report forms.

  The Scottish Executive’s road accident statistics database is designed to provide information about the numbers of accidents and casualties for Scotland as a whole, for police force and local authority areas, and for the main roads. It is not designed to provide figures for short stretches of local roads. The statistical report forms do not include police forces’ detailed descriptions of accident locations, which can be used by local authorities to determine whether, for example, an accident which was reported as having taken place on the outskirts of a village actually occurred just outside it, or just within it. Subject to these caveats, the information held in the central statistical database suggests that there were two accidents involving personal injury on the B822 in Kippen in the years from 1994 to 2003 (inclusive): one in 1994 and one in 2002.

  It should be noted that these statistics are based upon data which were collected by the police at the time of the accident, and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at a local level, about the location of each accident, based on its knowledge of the road and the area concerned.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds in respect of traffic volumes and speeds on the B822 between the entrance from the north and the exit to the south of Kippen.

Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for Stirling Council as the local roads authority. The information requested is not held centrally.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research or evaluations have been carried out to establish the effectiveness and impact of individual Safer Routes to Schools road safety initiatives.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive research reports Safely To School: A Study Of Safer Routes To School In The Classroom (2003) and Review Of Safer Routes To School In Scotland (1999) are available from the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 30304 and 3500). Research on the effectiveness of the Executive’s School Travel Co-ordinator (STC) initiative is currently in progress, looking at all aspects of STC activity including Safer Routes to School schemes. A report on this should be published later this year.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the best ways are of measuring the impact of Safer Routes to Schools road safety initiatives.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive guidance booklet How To Run A Safer Routes To School Scheme gives advice on the essential elements which are necessary for all successful schemes.

  A Safer Routes to School Scheme does not involve a single pre-defined approach. Schemes can be implemented for a number of different reasons, for instance to effect a reduction in child road accident casualties or an increase in cycling and walking to school. A successful scheme’s impact will vary according to the outcomes which it was intended to achieve. The impact should, however, always be appropriately measured.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that its tender list for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland comprises only two contractors and whether this is in accordance with applicable guidelines governing the tender process and, if not, what steps it will take to address any difficulties which may arise.

Nicol Stephen: No. Although current procurement guidance recommends a minimum of three bidders, two is acceptable when this is considered to provide genuine competition. The nature of the firms which have been selected to tender for these contracts should ensure a genuine competition.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement that only two firms have been selected to bid for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland, whether it is concerned that the cost to the taxpayer may be unreasonably high.

Nicol Stephen: No. Although there are only two bidders for each contract, including the existing service providers, the firms involved all have the resources and experience to offer competitive bids that will provide value for money.

Roads

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary question to question S2O-6076 by Nicol Stephen on 14 April 2005, when the next trunk road review will take place.

Nicol Stephen: No decision has yet been taken on the date of starting the next trunk road review. As the last review took place in 1995, I have indicated it would be appropriate to hold such a review soon after the new Regional Transport Partnership are established.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of air transport for its officials in each year since 1999, broken down by purpose of travel, for example representing the Executive or fact-finding.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information about expenditure incurred by officials travelling by air is available only from April 2002. No information is held centrally about the purpose of the journeys undertaken.

  The expenditure incurred on air travel is as follows:

  
1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 - £1,737,744
1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 - £1,768,243
1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 - £1,894,142.